Means of teaching piano playing



`fune 26, 1923.

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JNVENToR.

A TTORNEY June 26, 1923.

I. M. SMITH MEANS OF TEACHING PIANO PLAYING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June5, 1919 ATTORNEY FISA.

1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I. M. SMITH MEANS OF TEACHING PIANO PLAYING FiledJune 5,

June 26, 1923.

INVENTOR. BY Im mgm m'wk @Q .n4/wwf# ATTORNEY F'lg.

June 26, 1923.

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IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES IBVING M. SMITH, OF SAN DIEGO,

PAT

CALIFORNIA, ASSICI'NOR T0 THE Q B B MUSIC COMPANY. i

MEANS OF TEACHING PIANO PLAYING,

Application led June 5,

To all wlwm z't may concern: Be it known that I, IRVING M. SMITH, acitizen of the United States, residing at San Die o, in the county ofSan Diego and State of alifornia, have invented a certain new and usefulMeans of Teaching Piano Playing, of which the following 1s aspecification.

My invention relates to a means and method of teaching piano playing bythe use of a player piano with a special roll provided with short musicexercises with illustrative, descriptive and linstructive subject matterproperly positioned relatively to said music and the objects of myinvention are: First, to provide a new and novel means and method ofteaching pupils piano playing; Second, to provide a 'music roll adaptedfol` layer` pianos with'music exercises to be played on the player pianoand with illustrative, descriptive and instructive subjectmatter on theface of the roll and in close proximity to the music bein played so thatthev pupil may watch van finger the player piano and thereby receiveexact illustrative operation and fin ering habit of the piano on the'music p ayed; Third, to provide a music roll of this class withexercises in diilerent progressive stages for'the pupil to take up as heprogresses; Fourth, to provide a means and method of this class wherebya student may learn all the fundamental principles of music byillustration, instruction and operation of a player piano in theircombined relation and without personal instruction; Fifth, to provide anew and novelly constructed player piano music roll; Sixth, to provide ameans and method for teaching piano playing by means of a player pianoand special rollin which one or more rolls of ordinary length containsall the necessary instructions, music, illustration, demonstration andoperation necessary .to a complete and practical understanding of pianoplaying and Seventh, to provide a means and method of this class whichis very simple and economical of construction, durable, easy to operateand eicient in its action. n

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions and the certain stepstaken as 1919. Serial'No. 301,958.

will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth inthe appended claims, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings anto the characters of reference thereon which form a part of thisapplication, in which:

Figure l is a vplan and diagrammatical view of a fragmentary portion ofa music roll illustrating the first or elementary lessons and exercises;Fig,- 2 is a similar view illustrating several of the more diiicultexercises; Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the third and fourthand more advanced eX- ercises; Figa is a similar view illustrating thefifth and sixth and more advanced exercises; Fig. 5 'is a similar viewillustratin the seventh-and eighth and more advanced exercises; Fig. 6is a similar view illustrating the ninth and tenth and more advancedexercises; Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating the eleventh and moreadvanced exercise and Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating the twelfthand more advanced exercise.`

The music roll is of the conventional width for use on the player pianoand is of the conventional shape and form generally and provided withthe usual music perforations. It is provided on its vface near thebeginning with a staff with a complete scale ofhalf notes with lettersdesignating each particular note of the scale and its position on thestaff, the upper portion of the staff is shown in treble clef and thelower portion in base clef all designated by the numeral l. 2 representsa blank staff. 3 represents a staif with numerals indicating the linesof the stai". 4 represents a staff with numerals indicating the spacesbetween the lines. 5 represents the staff in the base clef with letterspositioned on the lines and in the spaces between the lines indicatingthe positions of the notes on the 'stail". 6 is a similar staff intreble or G clef. 7 represents a staff in the base or F clef with theledger lines with letters indicating the position of the notes on theledger lines. 8 represents a similar staff in the treble or G clef. 9represents the right and left hand positions, with .the iingers properlymarked and l0 represents the perforation exercise in the music roll foruse on the player piano and it will be noted that each` perforation isprovided with a number and letter indicating the finger and the scale inwhich it is played and that this 4the player piano as well as watchingthe` in connection with the perforations 10 thereis provided descriptivematter for the pupil to read while the exercise is being played on scaleand notes on the staff 1.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings is shown a continuation of the music roll fromFig. 1.

There is provided a staff 11 with varying musical characters thereonwith descriptive matter describing each character in a concise mannermore particularly relating to time.

It will be here noted that 12 on the various views indicates the tempoin which the various exercises are to be played. The exerciseperforations 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 show the exercises as illustratedin the scale 1l to be played on the player-piano and on the one side ofsaid perforations is the staff showing the position of the notesrelatively to the statil and upon the other side is descriptive mattersetting forth the kind of notes such as whole notes, half notes, quarternotes, etc. The descriptive matter is to be followed while 'theexercises 13 to 18 inclusive are being played on the player piano.

.In Fig. 3 is 'shown a continuation of the music roll from Fig. 2showing the more advanced exercises 3 and 4 and illustrating togetherwith the music a staff 19 with the notes in position with 'theirreference letters in connection therewith and with numerals indicatingthe finger for both left and right hand, also the perforations 20 insaid roll with corresponding letters and numerals indicating the lingermarkings shown in exercise 3 while exercise 4 shows a more advancedexercise with letters indicating the notes and numerals indicating thefingers with perforations 21 for the player piano corresponding with themusic shown on the stati' 22. Fig. 4 is a continuation of 'the roll fromthat of Fig. 3 and illustrates an exercise for both hands together inhalf notes with perforations 22 on the roll for playing on the playerpiano While the music is be ing watched by the pupil and exercise 6 onthe same figure is a more advanced exercise. In the Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8which are continuations of the roll, there are provided more advancedexercises gradually eliminating the lettering and finger markings inconnection with the perforations and music as the exercises become moreadvanced.

It will be noted 'that the roll may be car ried on to very advancedStages if desired or several rolls may be used, each exercise with theperforations for playing on a player piano being provided with the musicand descriptive, illustrative and instructive matter in connectiontherewith for the pupil to watch as it is being played on the piano sothat the pupil acquires a knowledge and practice of practically perfecttime and position as the pupil may count aloud as the mu sic is playedon the player piano and Watch the keys of the player piano in connectionwith the music as the music is played. That the pupil may place hislingers on keys of the player piano as the music is being played andwatch the finger markings beside the perforations as shown in Fig. 3,exercise 3, thus acquiring the habit of proper fingering.

It will be also noted that in F ig. 8, exercise 12 there is providedmusic to be played in three-four time with descriptive matter thusproviding the descriptive illustrative matter together with theperforations for the music on the player piano. All previous countsbeing four counts for each measure, while in this instance there areonly three counts for each measure.

Though I have shown and described a particular means and method ofteaching piano playing I do not wish to be limited to this particularmeans and method as illustrated and described but desire to include inthe purview of my invention the means and method substantially as setforth in the appended claims.

v Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent` is:

1. A music instruction strip comprising, a movable sheet bearing visualtextual precept, and an immediately following ration adapted to resultin an actuation of a musical instrument in audible illustration of theprecept, combined substantially as set forth.

2. A music instruction strip comprising, a movable'sheet bearing avisual textual precept, a pictorial illustration following the precept,and a contiguous perforation adapted to result in an actuation of amusical instrument in audible illustration of the preperfocept andillustration, combined substantially as`set forth.

3. A music roll for pla er pianos provided with a pluralit of sets omusic perforations and note and nger'markings at the sides of and inclose proximity with each set of perforations.

4. A Vmusic roll for player pianos provided with a plurality of sets ofmusic perforations, note and finger markings 1n close proximity witheach set of perforations and music on the face of the roll in closeproximity thereto adapted to be seen as the roll is being played. A

5. A music roll for player pianos provided with a plurality of sets ofmusic rforations, note and finger markings in proximity with each set ofperforations, music on the face of the roll so positioned that it isadapted to be seen as the roll is being played and descriptive,instructive and illustrative matter on the face ofthe roll at the sideof, and adjacent the perforations adapted tobe seen While the roll isbeing played.

6. A music roll for player pianos provided with a plurality of musicperforations, note and finger niarkin at the sides of and in closeproximity Wit each perforation, music on the face of the roll at theside of and adapted to be seen as the roll is being played, descriptive,instructive and illustrative matter on the face of the roll at the sideof and adapted to be seen While the roll is being played and moredifficult exercises on the same roll following immediatel thereafterwith illustrative, instructive an descriptive matter relating thereto inclose proximity thereto.

7. In a music roll for player pianos, the

combination of the ordinary music roll with l perforations andinstructive, illustrative and descriptive matter mounted on the face ofthe roll at the side of and in close proximity with said perforations,whereby the same may be readily observed and read while the music isbeing layed.

8. A device, ildr use with an automatic musical instrument, providedwith means for selectively causing the sounding of the notes of aselection, and provided also With means ior indicating to a pu il howthe selection is to be played manual y.

9. A device, for use with an automatic musical instrument, provided Withmeans for causing the sounding of the notes of a selection, and providedalso with means for indicatin to a pupil how the hand is to be used 1nmanually causing the corresponding notes to be sounded.

10. A device, for use with an automatic keyboard musical instrument,provided with means for selectively causing the sounding of the notes ofa selection, and provided also With means for indicating to a pupil thekeys which should be struck in playing the selection manually.

ll. A device, for use with an automatic key-board musical instrument,provided With means for selectively causing the soundinnr of the notesol' a selection, and provided also with means for indicating to a pupilwhat fingers are to be used in manually playing the selection.

12. A device, for use with an automatic musical instrument, providedwith means for selectively causing the sounding of the notes of aselection, and provided also with means for indicating to a upil Whatkeys are to be struck7 and what ngers are to be used, in manuallyplaying the selection.

13. A device, for use with an automatic musical instrument, providedwith means for selectively causing the sounding of the notes of aselection, and provided also With means for indicating to a pupil howthe selection is to be played manually, and provided also vvith theWritte!` score of the musical selection.

14. A music roll comprising a strip with perforations to control theroduction -of notes, the strip having insignia adjacent to a perforationto indicate the note sounded by said perforation, and also insignia toindicate the finger to be used in manual playing of the identified note.

15. A music roll comprising a strip with perforations to produce amelody and also associated notes, and having insignia adjacent eachperforation to indicate the finger and hand to be used in manual playinof the notes, and having an indicator for i entifying the melody notes.

16. A music roll for player pianos provided With a plurality of musicperforations and note and finger markings in close proX- imity with eachperforation.

In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at ban Diego,California this 31 day of May 1919.

IRVING M. SMITH.

